Welcome to the AC Tropical Fish aquarium forum. Our aquarium forum is the place to discuss any aquarium related issue in a friendly environment. Our aquarium forum welcomes aquarists of all levels from beginners to experts. Please ask a question in the how to section of our forum or read the FAQ section if you have any questions. register to and become a part of our friendly aquarium forum community today.

I'm going to buy my tank tomorrow and set it up this weekend or the beginning of next week. I plan to put the filter media into one of the two AquaClears on my 29 gallon for a few days to get it cycled!

How long would I need to run them through the filter? A week? Or would less time suffice?

:) Just ordered my tank! It should be here on Tuesday, so I'll set it up then! I'm going to pick up filter media today on my way home to put it into one of my aquaclears, that way by the time I get my fish (I think that'll be on Thursday or Friday) it will be all cycled and ready to go!

I'm going to have to look around and see what plants I can find locally and hunt down a nice piece of driftwood.

Hey Lo, what kind of substrate do you have in the 29 gallon tank? Is it gravel by any chance?

Oh, better yet, take a few pieces of biomax out of one of the ACs on the 29 and put them in a media bag and drop the bag into the chi and let it rest on the bottom for a couple of weeks. That should get the media in the chi populated with BB. Gravel from the 29 would work, too.

Hey Lo, what kind of substrate do you have in the 29 gallon tank? Is it gravel by any chance?

Oh, better yet, take a few pieces of biomax out of one of the ACs on the 29 and put them in a media bag and drop the bag into the chi and let it rest on the bottom for a couple of weeks. That should get the media in the chi populated with BB. Gravel from the 29 would work, too.

Ooh, that's a good idea! :D thanks!

I am using the exact same substrate that's in the 29! When I set the tank up, scoop some of the substrate from my tank at home and add it to what's being put in the chi. :) Thanks for the advice!

Biomax from your ACs on the 29 would work too. Just put some in a baggie with used tank water from the 29 on the day you set up the chi. As long as you keep the biomax wet, the BB should be ok until you put them in the media bag and drop it into the chi. You can always replace the biomax in the filter on the 29 with new biomax purchased at a the store if you have one near you.

I'm not sure if the eco-complete\tahitian moon sand would carry enough BB to populate the chi filter...maybe it would...but I wouldn't count on it.

Biomax from your ACs on the 29 would work too. Just put some in a baggie with used tank water from the 29 on the day you set up the chi. As long as you keep the biomax wet, the BB should be ok until you put them in the media bag and drop it into the chi. You can always replace the biomax in the filter on the 29 with new biomax purchased at a the store if you have one near you.

I'll do that! I have extra biomax anyways since I always keep an extra in case. Thanks a bunch for the idea!

Trying to figure out a good spot for the tank. I'd love for it to be right on my desk so I can have my new betta right next to me all day!

I attached a picture of my office to give you guys an idea of how it's set up. That empty corner of the desk doesn't get any direct sunlight because of the large support beam that's there. The reflection makes it look like it does, but on the sunniest day the light only actually directly touches the bottom few inches. I'm considering putting the tank here, so there is a lot of indirect, natural light for the plants but it won't affect the water temperature.

I'm not positive, though. Any thoughts? Think it would look good there? It'll obviously be easier to tell once I have it and can put it there to see.